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| == Solution == | | == Solution == |
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− | One of the simplest tests is a “T-Test”, sometimes called a “Student T Test”. | + | One of the simplest tests is a '''T-Test''', sometimes called a “Student T Test”. |
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− | Statisticians use the concept of _P Value_ to discuss the how often a result might appear to be significant even when it’s not. While this crude measure doesn’t describe all the ways something might happen due to chance, generally the lower the P Value, the better. Professional scientists, especially those who understand statistics, will get touchy if you claim a result based purely on P Values, but for Personal Science purposes, it’s a good start. There is no “correct” cutoff value that can determine the likelihood that something is due to chance alone, but traditionally people assume that anything under 0.05 deserves a closer look.
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| + | Statisticians use the concept of ''P Value'' to discuss the how often a result might appear to be significant even when it’s not. While this crude measure doesn’t describe all the ways something might happen due to chance, generally the lower the P Value, the better. Professional scientists, especially those who understand statistics, will get touchy if you claim a result based purely on P Values, but for Personal Science purposes, it’s a good start. There is no “correct” cutoff value that can determine the likelihood that something is due to chance alone, but traditionally people assume that anything under 0.05 deserves a closer look. |
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| Here’s an example for how to do this in Excel. | | Here’s an example for how to do this in Excel. |
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| Suppose you’d like to know if taking a melotonin supplement will help you sleep longer. You’ve measured your daily sleep, taking the supplements on some days (the “intervention”) and not on others (“control”). | | Suppose you’d like to know if taking a melotonin supplement will help you sleep longer. You’ve measured your daily sleep, taking the supplements on some days (the “intervention”) and not on others (“control”). |
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| Track your sleep under two columns: one for nights when you took the supplement, and the other for nights you didn’t. | | Track your sleep under two columns: one for nights when you took the supplement, and the other for nights you didn’t. |
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− | The built-in Excel statistical function `T.TEST` will calculate the P-Value when you give it two ranges, the “intervention” (nights we took melotonin) and the “control” (nights without). | + | The built-in Excel statistical function <code>T.TEST</code> will calculate the P-Value when you give it two ranges, the “intervention” (nights we took melotonin) and the “control” (nights without). |
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| See the screenshot for the exact formula in this case: | | See the screenshot for the exact formula in this case: |